Blackout: Be Prepared

People who experienced the 'Big One' in August 2003 have found out how dependant we are on electricity. It is surprising how many people forget, or simply don't know how to prepare for, or handle a loss of electrical services even for just a couple of hours.
The following is a collection from various sources of the Do's and Dont's of blackouts.

Home Safety:

Make sure to have a *working* flashlight. One with dead batteries will not be very helpful. Also, it should be in a place that can be accessed easily in the dark. Putting it in a toolbox at the back of the closet with stuff piled on top is not a good idea.

If you were cooking on an electric range or oven before the blackout happened, turn it off immediately. Forgetting to do so, could result in a fire when power is restored.

If you live in a building with an elevator, do not use it if there is a chance of a blackout (such as extreme weather).

Communications:

Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged. Major cellular providers can retain service for 8 hours or more on reserve power.
VIoP modems for some home phone services have built-in batteries that can keep the modem operating for about 12 hours.
Traditional home phone services (without a modem), can operate on reserve power for over 24 hours.

Have a *working* battery-operated radio. It is important to keep tuned in to a local station for news and important announcements. A news/talk AM station is best.
Radio stations run on emergency power for up to 24 hours. Although, some reduce their transmitter power to conserve the backup. You may find that stations may not be as "strong" during a major blackout for this reason.

If you live in an apartment building or condominium with a PA system, this will also operate on backup power, along with the fire alarm. Be aware of the possibility of announcements through your building's internal system.

Driving and Travelling:

It is not recommended that you go out during a blackout, especially if there is extreme weather. If you must travel, here are some points to keep in mind.

If you are driving, drive slow. There will probably be no street lights, and pedestrian crossover beacons will not be working either. Therefore, beware of pedestrians trying to cross the street.
As a pedestrian, you can help drivers by wearing bright clothing, and crossing only at intersections. Avoid crossing the street otherwise during a blackout, even if there is a crosswalk.

When at an intersection with failed traffic signals, remember that it is a four-way stop, and always give right-of-way to active emergency vehicles and pedestrians.

If your city has a subway system, do not use it if there is a possibility of a blackout (such as extreme weather). Take the bus instead. There is nothing worse than evacuating a subway train in a pitch-black tunnel. I would not wish that experience on anyone.

Food Safety:

Do not open the refrigerator or freezer during a blackout. Food can remain cold for up to 4 hours, and frozen for up to 7 hours, if you don`t open the doors.
Of course, check all food after the blackout, and don't use anything you are not sure about.

Conserving Water:

If you live above the sixth floor, city water supply pressure is not enough to reach you. Buildings have reserve tanks on their roofs, which are served by pumps. Since the pumps are not working, you will only have whatever water is in the tanks. After that, no more water. You would not believe how many idiots take showers, and even wash dishes during a blackout. That can wait. Reserve water for those who need it for more important things, such as drinking.

Preparing For the Post-Blackout:

Keep heavy-current drawing appliances off. These include anything with a motor or resistance load. Washer, dryer, electric heating, cooling, even fans. These appliances cause a spike when they first start up, drawing almost 3 times as much current than normal, and the resulting load of all these starting up at once could cause another blackout.

Unplug sensitive electronics during a blackout. Computer, TV, and A/V gear should be completely disconnected from the power source. Not just because of power spikes during the storm, but when power is off for a long time, a high-voltage static charge or residue can build-up in your household wiring, as much as 5,000 volts. When power is restored, this static charge is pushed through the outlet, and can damage electronic circuits.

Keeping these things in mind, will help everyone during the next outage. It will happen. It is just a matter of when.